Taste of Olney

Breakfast: The most important meal of the day or gateway to gluttony?

The breakfast debate still rages down the centuries when European thinkers declared it a pathway to hedonism and the loss of self-control. In our modern age, the New York Times devotes an entire blog to the subject of breakfast, but nutritionists have been unable to agree on whether skipping breakfast hurts or helps your health. Thomas Aquinas opined in the 13th century that “praepropere,” or eating too early in the morning, was one of the five forms of gluttony, along with overeating (nimis), spending too much on food (laute), eating too eagerly (ardenter) or too daintily (studiose). “Fasting was seen as evidence of one’s ability to negate the desires of the flesh; the ideal eating schedule, from that perspective, was a light dinner (then consumed at midday) followed by heartier supper in the evening,” wrote Megan Garber for The Atlantic in “The Most Contentious Meal of the Day.”

Breakfast got its cachet in the 1960s, when American nutritionist Adelle Davis posited that to keep fit and healthy, “one should ‘eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper’,” according to a 2022 article in Medical News Today. Although recent studies suggest that eating a healthy balanced breakfast of fresh foods can fill nutrition gaps, promote weight loss and - along with eating healthy snacks throughout the day – level out glucose spikes that cause energy to drag.

A 2021 review of 14 observational studies showed that those who eat breakfast every day have a reduced risk for heart disease, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, stroke, abdominal obesity, cardiovascular-related death, and elevated low-density (LDL) cholesterol, Medical News Today reported. It was not clear, however, if breakfast itself was the reason, the magazine said.

This week, Danny spotlights breakfast with a well-rounded and colorful platter that stirs the appetite and starts the day off right with healthy greens, lean protein, berries, peppers, and olive oil loaded with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, vitamins, fiber, and probiotics. It’s an all-in-one tool for nutrition.

This surprisingly hefty meal - one that Danny prepares for himself – features egg whites sauteed with spinach, red and green baby bell peppers, and goat and feta cheeses. A beefy tomato drizzled with olive oil and topped with basil stands in for bacon or ham, and a bowl of berries - in this case, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries completes the meal with a sweet, fresh note.

“When you start the day with a healthy breakfast, you not only feel better but know that you are armed with a good base of nutrition for whatever happens the rest of the day,” Danny said.

As always, the ingredients are available at Stewart’s Food Store.

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh spinach 1 red baby bell pepper, chopped 1 green baby bell pepper, chopped 1 tomato, sliced Chopped basil to taste ½ cup of berries, such as straw berries, blueberries, raspberries Olive oil 2 eggs, whites separated 1 tbsp feta cheese 1 tbsp goat cheese Preparation: Step 1: Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium-sized skillet. Add spinach and bell peppers, sauteeing until spinach wilts and peppers soften.

Step 2: Add egg whites and cheeses and stir into veggies. Cook until egg whites are firm and cheese is melted, and remove to plate.

Step 3: Add tomato slices to plate. Drizzle with olive oil and top with basil. Assemble berries in bowl and serve.

Step 4: Smile and start your day, knowing you fueled your body.